Shadows of the Statue [Open]

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If only I knew Nightmare Night was this fun! Subtle Swan thought as she walked with a little bounce to her steps from booths to the others so she could see little foals and grown ups alike play skill games. It was the first time she truly celebrated Nightmare Night, and she was enjoying every second. The creepy yet festive ambiance, seeing others in all sorts of costumes having fun, and the thrill of experimenting something new made her feel like a little filly once again. She was also glad to be moving: while it wasn't particularly cold outside, the cool breezes of autumn were having there toll on her, and the flimsy white dress she was wearing wasn't exactly the best piece of cloth for keeping her body heat. 

As she continued her walk, she saw that a few ponies carrying candy bags were following a pathway that lead towards the outskirts of the village, which led to the Everfree Forest. Wondering why all these ponies were going, she followed them. After a few minutes, she saw that a group of ponies were gathered around what looked like a statue of a pony. Intrigued, she hurried her steps. As she got closer she could hear some voices of the ponies near the statue. She heard the words 'Candy' and 'Offering'. As she got close enough to clearly see the features of the statue, she froze, recognizing the pony sculpted in marble. Nightmare Moon. As she saw young costumed foals hesitantly approach the statue to lay a candy offering at its base, she remembered the myth she had so often heard every year when she was at school.

Observing the cautious group for a while, a sudden question sprang to her mind: Where did the statue even came from? Why would they put a statue of a monstrous mare in such a random spot? 

Curious, she decided to explore a bit the surroundings to see if there was anything that could be related to the statue, or even other statues of its kind. Entering the forest, she started blinking her eyes a few times to adjust them to the poor light. After a little while, satisfied, she began by making a circular pattern, keeping her attention to what laid beyond her. After a few minutes, she realized that, unfortunately, there was  probably nothing to be found. A cold breeze made her shiver; it was time for her to head back. As she regained the clearing, she realized there was no one near the statue anymore.

Worried, she started trotting as she headed back to the pathway leading to Ponyville. As she passed the statue, she felt her skin crawl. She felt as she was being watched. It is only your imagination you scaredy cat, she chided herself,  you are not a filly anymo- she stopped as she heard a noise behind her. She turned her head slowly. 

Back from where she came, far between the dark trees, glowing red eyes were fixed on her. Frozen in place, she stared with wide eyes as the eyes slowly closed. After a few moments, Swan took a deep breath. It is gone, she thought, I am safe. As she was about to turn back, she saw the eyes opening again in the darkness. 

They were closer. 

Her heart pounding, she ran as fast as she could. 

As she approached the town, she started looking for somepony. Anypony.

Tonight, nightmares were coming alive.

[Silver Tongue]

Silver had just gotten done scaring a group of kids with a story before spotting his next victim.  The cute white mare in the white dress.  He vanished, following behind her as she made her way toward the edge of town, toward the Statue.  He grinned at himself as she started searching around it, but then started heading back.  He had to think of something, and quick.  

He rushed into the woods, and became visible.  He stumbled out of the woods, and bumped into Swan, as if he didn't see her.  A ragged looking brown unicorn with messy blonde hair, and a torn vest.  Nothing out of the ordinary... right?  "Oh... Miss... I'm s-sorry, you gotta help me... there... there's a beast in there.  We have to get t-to town, warn the others before it's too late!"  He called, his face frantic as he kept looking back toward the forest.

A pair of piercing red eyes came through the bushes, followed by a low growl.  Silver took a few steps back, pushing Swan behind him, but making sure not to knock her over.  "By Celestia, it's too late...  I'm sorry for bringing this thing to you..."  The growling got louder, but the eyes stayed in one spot.  Almost as quickly as the growling started, it stopped, and the eyes vanished.  Silver let out an almost relieved sigh when he saw the thing go.

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Her heart pounding, Subtle Swan galloped as fast as she could to outrun the creature lurking in the shadows. Even though she had her eyes wide with fright, she never saw what bumped into her. At first terrified that it could have been the beast itself, she realized to her relief that it was another pony. It was indeed a brown unicorn in garbs. I am safe, I am safe!! she tried to appease herself, hoping the stranger was powerful enough with his magic to blast the creature back into the forest.

Before she could beg him to help her, he called to her: "Oh... Miss... I'm s-sorry, you gotta help me... there... there's a beast in there.  We have to get t-to town, warn the others before it's too late! ''

Her heart dropped; she couldn't believe it. Is he also running from the same beast? Part of her dearly hoped it was; now was not the time to have another of those dreadful creatures on her tails. Before she could tell him to run as well, she heard a low growl coming from the forest. Her eyes snapped to where she came from: the eyes were there again.

The stranger saw them too and began backing away, putting himself between her and the eyes. She couldn't help but feel grateful that he was protecting her, yet she was also scared about what could happen to him. Still backing away, he said:

"By Celestia, it's too late...  I'm sorry for bringing this thing to you..."

Bringing this? What does he mean by... It cannot be too late, it just cannot be.

Soon after, the eyes disappeared again. She heard her protector sigh in relief. She wasn't at all that relieved though. Urgently nudging him with her hoof, she called out:'' We can't stay here; it may look gone but it is only getting closer! We have to run! NOW!''

She turned around and continued running, hoping for the other unicorn would follow her. We have to get back to Ponyville, we will be safe, it won't follow us there, there will be other ponies to prote-. She froze. Her eyes widened in terror. She could feel herself tremble. In front of her, blocking the pathway leading to Ponyville, shrouded by the shadows of the nearby trees, stood the shade of the creature, its red eyes glaring menacingly at them. She heard a deep, powerful growl, as if about to pounce.

There was no escape.


She screamed.

[Silver Tongue]

Silver moved around Swan, a pained look in his face as he stood between her and the shadow of the beast.  His eyes widened and a look of fear shot through him as he looked back at Swan.  "R...Run..."  Was all he was able to mutter before his eyes seemed to shift, the color changing from blue to red.  Green flames started to spout up around him before quickly fading, giving the area around them a quick flash.

Slowly, tufts of fur seemed to grow from around his fetlocks.  A growl came from him as his teeth sharpened, and his mane and tail grew shaggier.  One last burst of flame flashed up, surrounding him entirely and fading just as quickly as he howled like a timberwolf, grinning at Swan.

He took a few short steps forward toward Swan, his breath ragged.  "It's too late... The beast is here."  He said, laughing at her, forgetting about the shadow she had seen behind him.